Local man sentenced on weapons, wildlife charges

Published: Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 9:41 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 9:41 a.m.

A local man will spend time behind bars after he pleaded no contest to several charges including unlawfully pursuing a wild turkey and alligator.

Wesley Alexander Godwin III, 52, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Brian Lambert to 13 months in prison for possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

He also was sentenced to spend 133 days in jail for illegally taking or attempting to take or possess a wild turkey and attempting to illegally kill, possess or capture an alligator.

In effect, only the prison sentence lies ahead for Godwin. He already has been in jail for 133 days awaiting resolution of these cases, and the judge credited him for the time already served.

All the sentences will run concurrently.

Godwin also must pay a $250 fine and court costs.

A status conference is scheduled for June 7 for Godwin's brother David Keith Godwin, 50, who was arrested on the same day and charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, among other charges.

On Jan. 10, two officers from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were on patrol on the northern portion of the Ocklawaha River when one observed feathers on the water, according to court records.

Upon investigation, the officers believed them to be from a "freshly killed turkey."

The officers followed ATV tracks to a small RV trailer, where they observed turkey feathers on the ground and inside a fire ring. They also noticed a fresh pile of entrails and what appeared to be squirrel remains close to the property, the court records said.

The officers walked next door and found Godwin who had what appeared to be "fresh blood" on his right boot, the records said. Godwin said the blood was from a squirrel he previously shot and cleaned.

Godwin handed the officers seven .22-caliber bullets.

After being read a Miranda warning, Godwin told police he used a .22-caliber rifle to kill a squirrel and told them where to find the weapon, according to court records. He then admitted to killing a hen turkey the night before while hunting squirrels and said he had put the turkey in his freezer.

He said he cleaned the turkey and threw the feathers in the river.

When asked about the squirrel remains, Godwin said he placed some of the squirrel pieces on a bush hook and was trying to catch catfish. He showed the officers the baited hook, which was connected to a "large roe in a manner customarily used for catch alligators," according to an official account of the incident. Godwin admitted he was trying to catch an alligator.

<p>A local man will spend time behind bars after he pleaded no contest to several charges including unlawfully pursuing a wild turkey and alligator.</p><p>Wesley Alexander Godwin III, 52, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Brian Lambert to 13 months in prison for possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.</p><p>He also was sentenced to spend 133 days in jail for illegally taking or attempting to take or possess a wild turkey and attempting to illegally kill, possess or capture an alligator.</p><p>In effect, only the prison sentence lies ahead for Godwin. He already has been in jail for 133 days awaiting resolution of these cases, and the judge credited him for the time already served.</p><p>All the sentences will run concurrently.</p><p>Godwin also must pay a $250 fine and court costs.</p><p>A status conference is scheduled for June 7 for Godwin's brother David Keith Godwin, 50, who was arrested on the same day and charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, among other charges.</p><p>On Jan. 10, two officers from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were on patrol on the northern portion of the Ocklawaha River when one observed feathers on the water, according to court records.</p><p>Upon investigation, the officers believed them to be from a "freshly killed turkey."</p><p>The officers followed ATV tracks to a small RV trailer, where they observed turkey feathers on the ground and inside a fire ring. They also noticed a fresh pile of entrails and what appeared to be squirrel remains close to the property, the court records said.</p><p>The officers walked next door and found Godwin who had what appeared to be "fresh blood" on his right boot, the records said. Godwin said the blood was from a squirrel he previously shot and cleaned.</p><p>Godwin handed the officers seven .22-caliber bullets.</p><p>After being read a Miranda warning, Godwin told police he used a .22-caliber rifle to kill a squirrel and told them where to find the weapon, according to court records. He then admitted to killing a hen turkey the night before while hunting squirrels and said he had put the turkey in his freezer.</p><p>He said he cleaned the turkey and threw the feathers in the river.</p><p>When asked about the squirrel remains, Godwin said he placed some of the squirrel pieces on a bush hook and was trying to catch catfish. He showed the officers the baited hook, which was connected to a "large roe in a manner customarily used for catch alligators," according to an official account of the incident. Godwin admitted he was trying to catch an alligator.</p><p>Godwin was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail.</p><p><i>Contact April Warren at 867-4065 or April.Warren@ocala.com.</i></p>